When Wall Street turns bearish on a stock, it’s worth paying attention. These calls stand out because analysts rarely issue grim ratings on companies for fear their firms will lose out in other business lines such as M&A advisory.

Whatever the consensus opinion may be, our team at StockStory cuts through the noise by conducting independent analysis to determine a company’s long-term prospects. Keeping that in mind, here is one stock poised to prove Wall Street wrong and two where the skepticism is well-placed.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Akamai Technologies (AKAM)

Consensus Price Target: $109.46 (-4.1% implied return)

With a massive distributed network spanning 4,100+ points of presence in nearly 130 countries, Akamai Technologies (NASDAQ: AKAM) provides a global distributed cloud platform that helps businesses deliver, secure, and optimize their digital experiences online.

Why Is AKAM Risky?

1. Products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy may need some adjustments as its 4.6% average billings growth over the last year was weak
2. Gross margin of 58.9% reflects its high servicing costs
3. Long payback periods on sales and marketing expenses limit customer growth and signal the company operates in a highly competitive environment

At $114.10 per share, Akamai Technologies trades at 3.8x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including AKAM in your portfolio.

Illinois Tool Works (ITW)

Consensus Price Target: $280.88 (8.4% implied return)

Founded by Byron Smith, an investor who held over 100 patents, Illinois Tool Works (NYSE: ITW) manufactures engineered components and specialized equipment for numerous industries.

Why Does ITW Fall Short?

1. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 3.2%
3. Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 3.8% annually

Illinois Tool Works’s stock price of $259.09 implies a valuation ratio of 23.3x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ITW doesn’t pass our bar.

One Stock to Watch:

The Ensign Group (ENSG)

Consensus Price Target: $220.40 (9.9% implied return)

Founded in 1999 and named after a naval term for a flag-bearing ship, The Ensign Group (NASDAQ: ENSG) operates skilled nursing facilities, senior living communities, and rehabilitation services across 15 states, primarily serving high-acuity patients recovering from various medical conditions.

Why Is ENSG Interesting?

1. Expected revenue growth of 18.3% for the next year suggests its market share will rise
2. Earnings growth has trumped its peers over the last five years as its EPS has compounded at 13.8% annually
3. Stellar returns on capital showcase management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures

The Ensign Group is trading at $200.59 per share, or 26.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

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